The Federal High Court says there was no such matter with purported Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/528/22 before Justice Inyang Ekwo and indeed before the entire jurisdiction of the court
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Federal High Court of Nigeria has debunked an online report in circulation which reported that Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Biodun Oyebanji from contesting the governorship election less than 48 hours to the polls.
In a rejoinder dated June 16, 2022, signed by the Federal High Court of Nigeria Assistant Director of Information, Catherine Oby Christopher, and made available to TheNiche, stressed that there was no such matter with purported Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/528/22 before Justice Inyang Ekwo and indeed before the entire jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
She said that the online publication is most worrisome, adding that the report is unfounded, very mischievous, embarrassing to the court and aimed at not only misleading members of the public, but also causing tension.
She advised journalists to embrace the ethics of the profession, verify their facts and remain truthful in their reports, cautioning that doing otherwise would amount to misinforming and misleading the public.
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Below is the full statement by Catherine Oby Christopher.
REJOINDER
RE: COURT DISQUALIFIES APC, BIODUN OYEBANJI FROM EKITI GUBER ELECTION.
The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to an online report in circulation on the above subject matter with a purportedly assigned Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CS/528/22, claiming that Hon.Justice Inyang Ekwo disqualified the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji from the Ekiti governorship election, less than 48 hours to the polls.
The Federal High Court hereby debunks the existence of any such case in its entire jurisdiction and indeed the Court Order as alleged.
The Contact Court states categorically that there has been no such case before Hon. Justice I.E Ekwo.
The said report is unfounded, very mischievous and aimed at not only misleading members of the public, but also causing tension.
It is worrisome that some media practitioners hasten to give false information to the public for their own selfish interests, thereby unduly heating up the polity.
Professionalism and truth remain ethical values that should guide journalists in their daily reportage of issues.
This spurious reportage sold out to the public is most unfortunate and unacceptable. It should be totally ignored.
Catherine Oby Christopher, Ph.D
Asst. Director Information,
Federal High Court of Nigeria.
16th June, 2022.